DoD News

News Article

Online Site Uses Games to Hone Acquisition Skills

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 2010  The Defense Acquisition University has launched a casual gaming website that’s designed to hone the skills of DOD’s acquisition and logistics work force.

The site currently offers 13 games –- with most featuring two-dimensional graphics -- that focus on contracting issues and the detection of fraud, Dr. Alicia Sanchez, a former research scientist who serves as DAU’s “games czar,” said during a Dec. 8 “DOD-Live” Bloggers roundtable.

The games, she said, are designed to bolster job performance through the “reinforcement of core competencies.”

Sanchez noted that experience marks the difference between novice and expert personnel -- and that some of that experience might be gained through online games.

The games also offer procurement professionals “just-in-time” training, she said, in addition to pre-deployment training for contingency contractors who must travel far and wide in their duties.

DAU plans to release another, more-complex, three-dimensional game in February, Sanchez said. However, she added, the organization sees value in designing for the minimum training requirement.

Comments

Article is closed to new comments.

The opinions expressed in the following comments do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of Defense.

12/13/2010 5:54:54 PM
On behalf of the American Forces Press Service, in response to numerous requests we are providing the following information: the website for the DAU games is http://clc.dau.mil/games. - Carol Bowers, Pentagon

12/12/2010 10:05:40 PM
Excellent article but I've been thoroughly stymied in my attempts to find said casual gaming website- my searching on the DAU website has been less than fruitful. If available, providing a link to said site in future would be helpful.- Ray, Rochester, MN